Wanderers showing spirit

PARK LIFE: WYCOMBE Wanderers will enter their home clash with Athletic in confident mood.

The Chairboys are in good form of late and have won their last two home matches under the guidance of manager Gary Waddock, who took over following the departure earlier this season of former Hull City boss Peter Taylor.

The low point of the season for Waddock undoubtedly came during a shambolic 6-0 defeat at Huddersfield — a game broadcast to the nation in which the home side could easily have hit double figures.

"The only positive I take is that we are leaving the ground at 10 to three," said Waddock after that game at the Galpharm Stadium in mid-November.

"The performance was a total embarrassment, full stop.

"That was simply not good enough. Performances like this are the reason why the team is bottom of the league. I've said to the players that for us to avoid relegation the season has to start from now."

And start it has. Since that defeat, Wanderers have picked up nine points from a possible 15 to haul themselves off the foot of the League One ladder and now sit five points adrift of the safety zone.

Waddock's men have had mixed news player-wise this week, as they bid to get last week's 1-0 loss away at Carlisle out of their collective system.

Bristol City's John Akinde has had his loan spell extended by a further month to boost options up front.

The 21-year-old has yet to register his first goal, but picked up the man-of-the-match award in a recent 2-1 victory over Stockport.

On the downside, veteran winger Gareth Ainsworth has had his loan spell at the club cut short due to injury.

The 36-year-old Queens Park Rangers player has torn a calf muscle and is out of action for six weeks.

Athletic could be up against two former players on Saturday. Former Ipswich and Leeds midfielder Ian Westlake, signed on a short-term deal by Joe Royle last season, is now a Wycombe player as is the much-travelled Kevin Betsy, who is currently on loan at the club from Southend.


DAVE Penney and several players paid a visit to the Royal Oldham Hospital children's ward today.

The club's staff were handing out Athletic gifts to children, posing for photographs and signing autographs as a continuation of the traditional visits to those forced to spend the festive period in hospital.

ATHLETIC fans will be able to enjoy a new magazine show focusing on local sides in the Football League from early next year.
'Late Kick Off' starts its run on Monday, January 18 at 11.15pm, and is a regionalised programme offering highlights and in-depth behind-the-scenes coverage from Football League clubs in the North-West.

The show will also be available on the BBC iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer